Into The Ethereal

Gallery owner Nicole Longnecker recruits a local curator and artists for The Charm of the Spectacle.

When gallery owner Nicole Longnecker moved to Houston 15 years ago, local art was a little harder to find. This stuck with the Iowa native who opened her own gallery in Upper Kirby in 2013 and began seeking out not only local creative artists, but also the curators behind the shows. For The Charm of the Spectacle, opening at the eponymous gallery on Friday, August 8, Longnecker handed the reigns over to a young curator and three female artists on the rise.

For Spectacle, Longnecker brought on curator Scarlett Taylor, whose experience in art curating includes shows at the now-closed Galleria Lazzara and 2404 Montrose Gallery, and for a special show at University of Houston's Counseling and Psychological Services.

"There is a wonderful spirit that Houston has that needs to be held up for the world to witness," says Taylor, who begins her MFA studies at Sotheby’s Institute of New York in September. "I sought after female artists whose oeuvre was strong enough to stand alone, but were also texturally complex and had an interesting design elements."

Taylor’s trio of female artists includes Celan Bouillet, Jessica Dupuis and Darcy Rosenberger, whose works align with a whimsical, otherworldly aesthetic. The collection features a mix of acrylic paintings, sculptures and mixed media installations that bring on thoughts and images of an interstellar or cosmic playground.

For example, Rosenberger’s "For G", made from Styrofoam, resembles a moon rock or Kryptonian geode—its middle section peeled open to reveal a sparkling heap of gold confetti; a gift in the middle. "I believe part of human consciousness is connected to these pattern based forms. My goal is to offer something that has an eternal aesthetic," mentions the artist. "It is an expression of gratitude and love, an expression of the beauty that exists in the concept of the gift."

The exhibition allows the viewer to enter a spiritual world filled with immersive and enticing visuals, something that inspired all who are involved. "I want to understand how to communicate in a meaningful and effective way to people in this language that I feel most adept at expressing myself through," says Rosenberger. "This was an outlet for that energy while serving as a way to connect."